The familiar surroundings of a northern eastern Tasmanian town have the support needed by a mother and her legally blind daughter.

When seven-year-old Gracy Wheeler walks through the playground of the Winnaleah Primary school, every student acknowledges her and she responds to all, even though she is legally blind.

Belinda Wheeler and her daughter Gracy moved back to north eastern Tasmania from South Australia six years ago and while Ms Wheeler loves having her family close by, there are things in relation to the care of Gracy that she prefers to tackle herself.

"She has lots of different quirky ways and how she likes things being done," Ms Wheeler said.

"I get lots of support from my family and friends but I sort of like to do it alone."

Gracy was born at 23 weeks with several different medical conditions including retinopathy of the prematurity which means that she is legally blind in one eye with only limited vision in the other.

"She [Gracy] was born with a hole in her heart, a bleed on her brain, she required over 50 blood transfusions, she had multiple spinal taps," Ms Wheeler said.

"She wasn't expected to survive."

Familiar surroundings

Now the pair are back in the same country town which is so familiar to Ms Wheeler.

"It's a lovely little community school, everyone knows each other, they've given me fantastic support and nothing has been too big or small as a request.

"I went from kindergarten to grade 10 here and some of the teachers that taught me have actually taught Gracy."

It is clear from the way Gracy is constantly chatting to her mum while sitting on her knee that the duo have a close relationship.

"I think I've coped considerably well. Sometimes it's very stressful and I do look back and think 'wow, how did I get through that alone?'," Ms Wheeler said.

"I don't have any other children to compare it to so for me this is just how it is."